Getting something for nothing might seem too good to be true but, in the case of online backup providers, there are some pretty good options available that don’t require you to reach for your wallet. Whether you want to share your files or keep a copy safe just in case, we’ve found the best products on the market. So, read on to find out what we think are the 5 best free backup services in 2016.
Summary
| Rank | Provider | Review | Price | Link |
1 |  | [vpnbest value=”5″]Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
2 |  | [vpnbest value=”4.5″] Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
3 |  | [vpnbest value=”4.1″] Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
4 |  | [vpnbest value=”3.8″] Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
5 |  | [vpnbest value=”3.5″] Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
Winner
IDrive
[vpnbest value=”5″] 5/5
PROS- Maximum 20GB of free space
Loads of features
Great security
CONS- Poor customer support
IDrive tops the list thanks to an impressive range of features and a generous storage allowance for free users. You’ll automatically get 5GB of space, with the option to increase this to a maximum of 20GB by successfully inviting friends to sign up too.
A free subscription to IDrive gives you access to plenty of features including local backups, archiving and NAS compatibility. Combined with handy tools such as the ability to upload files directly from Facebook and Instagram, and top-notch security features, you’ve got a flexible service that successfully combines features from both Cloud storage and online backup services, and excels whether you want to perform basic tasks or get more creative.
If 20GB isn’t enough, you can upgrade to one of IDrive’s paid subscriptions, which start from just $3.75 per month for 1TB of storage space.
2nd place
Dropbox
[vpnbest value=”4.5″] 4.5/5
- PROS
- Up to 18GB of free space
Extremely quick and easy to use
- CONS
- Poor security
One of the best-known Cloud storage providers on the market, Dropbox offers a pretty good deal for free users – particularly if you just want to share a few files or access important documents on the go.
Although you’ll start off with only 2GB of space, inviting friends can increase this to a maximum of 18GB, with each successful referral earning you 500MB. You can also earn a few more GB by doing things like following the company on Twitter or Facebook.
The other major advantage of Dropbox is its convenience – you won’t find many providers that are easier to use, and the mobile application is just as good as the desktop client. On the downside, security features aren’t the best; so privacy-conscious users might want to familiarise themselves with exactly how safe their files will be before signing up.
If you find that Dropbox works well for you, you can expand your storage allowance to 1TB for around $11 per month by signing up for a Pro account. Click the button below to give it a try!
3rd place
Google Drive
[vpnbest value=”4.1″] 4.1/5
- PROS
- 15GB of free space
Store unlimited files in Google formats
Excellent for sharing and collaboration
- CONS
- Weak security
Very Google-centric
Google Drive is the perfect solution for users looking to sync, share and create new files online, and offers both extremely easy-to-use software and a flexible free plan. So if you’re looking for an alternative to MS Office and like the idea of constant auto-saving and simple sharing options, it might be the choice for you.
Technically speaking Google Drive gives you 15GB of free storage space, but there’s an added bonus – files created in native Google formats (such as docs, sheets and slides) don’t count towards your storage limit. Having said this, it’s not the best choice if you’re looking for a way to backup large numbers of files in case of an emergency, as security is minimal and it lacks important features like automatic backups and desktop sync. If you’re looking for convenience and easy access, however, it’s hard to go wrong here!
If you run out of storage space, you can pick from subscriptions ranging from 100GB for $1.99 per month to 30TB for a monthly fee of $299.99. Click below to find out more!
4th place
Memopal
[vpnbest value=”3.8″] 3.8/5
- PROS
- Up to 13GB of free space
Simple to use
Great for European users
- CONS
- Average security
Italian backup service Memopal is an excellent choice for Europe-based users, with their closer location meaning better speeds than you’ll get from US-based providers. Their free subscription consists of an automatic 3GB of storage, with the option to earn an additional 10GB by successfully inviting friends to join up.
A free subscription will let you make use of the full range of Memopal’s features, including traditional backup options like scheduled backups and archiving, as well as file sharing and synchronisation options. Although its security features aren’t the best, the software is simple and intuitive to use, making it a great choice if you want a flexible program that’s easy to work with.
If you decide to upgrade, a Pro account will set you back around $7 per month in exchange for 500MB of storage space.
5th place
Syncplicity
[vpnbest value=”3.5″] 3.5/5
- PROS
- 10GB free storage
Simple and easy to use
Good sync and share options
- CONS
- Very few extra features
Difficult to customise
With Syncplicity, all of the basic backup boxes are ticked – 10GB of free storage space, easy to use file sharing options, unlimited file versioning, and simple ways to both upload and download your data. It makes it to the list thanks to the fact that, although it doesn’t offer many extra flourishes, the core processes needed to backup your data are all present and correct, and work very well.
Should you decide you want to upgrade from a free plan, you can purchase 100GB for $5 per month. That’s as far as their personal plans go, though, so this is definitely an option for those without very large quantities of data. If you want a backup provider to help you sync and share files between multiple devices, however, you can’t go too wrong. Visit their website below to give Syncplicity a try!
Our criteria
All of the plans that have made it to the top 5 are completely free, with no hidden charges or time limits. We’ve only taken into account storage space that is available by default, or by inviting friends. We’re not big fans of swapping benefits for Facebook likes, so providers that offer extra space in return for this alone haven’t made it to the list.
Finally, we know that biggest doesn’t always mean best, so the top five have been chosen not just based on who offers the most free space (although this is undeniably important), but also on the quality of the product. Additional features, reliability and ease of use all factor into the selection process too.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for space or security, there are plenty of ways to keep your data safe for free – and with nothing to pay, why not take these providers for a spin and see for yourself?
A final recap
| Rank | Provider | Review | Price | Link |
1 | | [vpnbest value=”5″]Read Review > | 0/mo | Visit Site > |
2 | | [vpnbest value=”4.5″] Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
3 | | [vpnbest value=”4.1″] Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
4 | | [vpnbest value=”3.8″] Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
5 | | [vpnbest value=”3.5″] Read Review > | $0/mo | Visit Site > |
Thanks very much for listing Memopal and Syncplicity, which I have not seen mentioned much elsewhere. For me, a true backup solution is one that lets me back up files and folders in place rather than forcing me to dump them into the backup application’s dedicated virtual black hole. Online storage is not the same thing as online backup. I would like to see articles like yours focus on this issue. I personally would not consider Dropbox and Google Drive to be backup services despite their usefulness in other respects.
Hi TeeJay,
Thanks for your comment, and for your feedback. I agree that the difference between online backup and Cloud storage is really important (you can even find a whole section on it in our Ultimate Online Backup Guide!) – but also appreciate that the distinctions weren’t too clear here. I’ve now updated the list to make it more obvious exactly what kind of services all of the featured providers are offering – hope that’s helpful!
Miranda
Interesting that you did not include Flickr for photo storage. 1TB free. I have used them for 4 years, without problems. A down-side of Flickr is that it is owned by Yahoo—how long will Yahoo be around for??
Hi Chris, Flickr is a photo-sharing site rather than a backup service. Take a look at http://www.bestbackups.com/ultimate-online-backup-guide/ for more info.